Hymn 16.

Chapter 4

1Herein is a mirror to be blamed — if its clearness is darkened — because there are spots on its substance;— for the foulness that is on it becomes — a covering before them that look on it. R. Blessed be He Who polished our mirror!

2For that comeliness is not adorned in it — and blemishes are not brought to view in it — it is altogether a damage to comely things — seeing that their comeliness gain not — adornments as their profit.

3Blemishes are not rooted out by it — likewise adornments are not multiplied by it.— A blemish that remains is as a loss — that there is no adornment is a defect:— loss is met together with defect.

4If our mirror be darkness — it is altogether joy to the hateful;— because their blemishes are not reproved:— but if polished and shining — it is our freedom that is adorned.

5Twofold is the loss in defect — for the hateful and for the goodly — in that the goodly gain no crown — and likewise the hateful get no adorning:— the mirror divides the loss.

6Never does the mirror drive — by compulsion him that looks therein:— so likewise grace which followed — upon the righteousness of the Law, — does not possess the compulsion of the Law.

7Righteousness was unto childhood — its adorner of compulsion — for when mankind was in childhood — she adorned it by compulsion — while she robbed it not of its freedom.

8Righteousness used blandishment — and the rod to deal with childhood — when she smote it she roused it; her rod restrained frowardness, her blandishment softened the minds.

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10[If one turn from the Gospel ,] wherewith we are adorned today, my brethren — to another gospel he is a child:— in a time of greatness of understanding — he has become without understanding.

11For in the degree of full age — he has gone down to childhood — and he loves the law of bondmen, — which when he is confident smites him — and when he rejoices buffets him.

12Whatsoever ornament is compulsion — is not true but is borrowed.— This is a great thing in God's eyes — that a man should be adorned by himself:— therefore took He away compulsion.

13For even as of His prudence — in its own time He employed compulsion — so likewise of His prudence — He took it away at a time — when gentleness was desired in its stead.

14For as it is befitting to Youth — that it should be made to haste under the rod — so is it very hateful that under the rod — Wisdom should be brought to serve — that compulsion should be lord over her.

15Behold therefore how likewise — God has ordered my successions — in the pastors I have had — and in the teachers He has given me — and in the fathers He has reckoned unto me!

16For weighed out according to their times — were the helps of their qualities;— namely in him in whom it was needful, fear ; and in whom it was profitable, heartening; and in whom it was becoming, meekness.

17By measure He made my steps advance:— to my childhood He assigned terror; likewise to my youth, fear — to my age of wisdom and prudence — He assigned and gave meekness.

18In the frowardness of the degree of childhood — my instructor was a fear to me:— his rod restrained me from wantonness — and from mischief the terror of him — and from indulgence the fear of him.

19Another father He gave to my youth:— what there was in me of childishness — that was there in him of hardness; what there was in me of maturity — that was in him as meekness.

20When I rose from the degrees — of childhood and of youth — there passed away the terror that was first — there passed away the fear that was second — He gave me a kind pastor.

21Lo! For my full age his food — and for my wisdom his interpretations;— and for my peace his meekness — and for my repose his kindness — and for my chastity his gravity!

22Blessed is He who as in a balance — weighed out and gave me fathers:— for according to my times were my helps — and according to my sicknesses my medicines — and according to my comelinesses my adornments!

23We then are they that have disturbed — the succession and fair order — for in a time of mildness — lo! We crave for hardness — that You should rebuke us as though we were children!